Amritsar: An annual Shaheedi samagam marked the memory of Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaeed Kehar Singh at Akal Takht Sahib, in Darbar Sahib complex at Amritsar today. The samagam was also attended by family members of Shaheed Satwant Singh.
Bhog of Akhand Path Sahib were held in the memory of Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC).
Leaders of various Sikh organizations, including leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann), Dal Khalsa and Sikh Youth of Punjab also attended the Shaheedi Samagam.
It is notable that in June 1984 Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, had launched army attack on Darbar Sahib (Amritsar) and other Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab and adjoining states. Indian army destroyed building of Akal Takht Sahib, fired at Darbar Sahib Amritsar, killed thousands of Sikh devotees in cold blood, damaged Tosha Khana and reduced the Sikh national library (located in Darbar Sahib Complex) to ashes.
The June 1984 attack marked beginning of 3rd Ghallughara (holocaust) of the Sikh History. Indira Gandhi was equated with Massa Ranghar, an eighteenth century ruler who had launched offensive against the Darbar Sahib.
Bhai Beant Singh and Satwant Singh executed Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 at her residence. Bhai Beant Singh was martyred by other bodyguards of Indira Gandhi after he had surrendered after bringing down Indira Gandhi. Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh were sentenced to death by Indian courts and were martyred by hanging in Tihar jail on 6 January 1989.
Bhai Beant Singh, Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh were declared as “Sikh Martyrs” after respective martyrdom. SGPC published Sikh Calendar has mentioned under the heading of Historical Days, October 31st as Shaheedi Bhai Beant Singh and January 6th as ‘Shaheedi Bhai Kehar Singh Bhai Satwant Singh.